Kiersten White is the NYT bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy and Mind Games, the start of a new dark thriller series. She has one tall husband and two small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.
Contact Info:
When I have free computer time I prefer to use it on blogging, facebook, and twitter, where more readers can see it, as opposed to private correspondence. I am not currently doing any blog interviews, and I never send out "swag" for blog giveaways. Any other interview requests must go through my publisher. I am not open to doing any events, local or otherwise, after May 2013, for the foreseeable future due to personal obligations.
If you want to send me something (such as a letter or bookplates to sign and send back) you can send it to:
Kiersten White
c/o HarperCollins Children's Books
10 E 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
If you have inquiries about film/translation rights, please contact my agent, Michelle Wolfson. Her contact info can be found on her website.
Shockingly enough, I'm also on Twitter and Facebook, and am sometimes easier to reach through those. Plus I'm funny. Kind of. Occasionally.
Maybe.
FAQ
Sometimes people ask me questions. And, rather less frequently, I give good answers.
What is your next book? Are you going to write any more PARANORMALCY books?
Endlessly finished the trilogy. I have no plans to write further in Evie's voice. However! I have five books coming out in 2013 and 2014. In February was a dark thriller called Mind Games, the first in a new series. In September 2013 you can read The Chaos of Stars, a standalone about the teenage daughter of ancient Egyptian gods. I sincerely hope you will enjoy my other books as much (or more!) than the Paranormalcy trilogy. I have a lot of stories in my brain. Regular siphoning is required.
Can you come to my school/library/bookstore/town?
Other than frequent trips to Utah, I am not usually in charge of where I do events. I wish I could visit all my readers! Alas, geography is a cruel mistress.
How can I find out where you'll be?
Check out the "Appearances" tab--it will always list my next few signings, as well as stores you can order signed copies from.
Can you send me swag (free stuff like bookmarks, signed books, etc.) for my blog contest?
What is your next book? Are you going to write any more PARANORMALCY books?
Endlessly finished the trilogy. I have no plans to write further in Evie's voice. However! I have five books coming out in 2013 and 2014. In February was a dark thriller called Mind Games, the first in a new series. In September 2013 you can read The Chaos of Stars, a standalone about the teenage daughter of ancient Egyptian gods. I sincerely hope you will enjoy my other books as much (or more!) than the Paranormalcy trilogy. I have a lot of stories in my brain. Regular siphoning is required.
Can you come to my school/library/bookstore/town?
Other than frequent trips to Utah, I am not usually in charge of where I do events. I wish I could visit all my readers! Alas, geography is a cruel mistress.
How can I find out where you'll be?
Check out the "Appearances" tab--it will always list my next few signings, as well as stores you can order signed copies from.
Can you send me swag (free stuff like bookmarks, signed books, etc.) for my blog contest?
Nope. Sorry.
When is the movie going to get made?
While we have sold the option to make Paranormalcy into a film or television series, movies are a long, complicated process. Rest assured the producer and his team are freaking awesome and doing everything they can to put Evie on the big screen. Recent updates include signing director Ray Kay on!
Which actors do you want for the roles?
I don't think too much about it, because when it comes to casting I will have pretty much zero say whatsoever. That being said, here's a blog post on the subject.
I saw that you're originally from Utah and got your degree from BYU. Does that mean...
That I like green jello? No, not too much. I prefer raspberry.
Oh, did you mean do I snowboard? Not as well as I'd like. Actually, I never enjoyed it very much, so I guess exactly as well as I'd like.
Wait, you were talking about something else entirely. The answer is no, I am not a blonde either naturally or from a bottle.
Also, yes, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known colloquially as Mormons. Not that that's what you were asking, of course.
(And, to answer any further questions, I am neither polygamist nor Republican.)
How do you find time to write?
I look between the couch cushions. Spare time always falls down there when I'm watching TV.
Seriously? I don't watch much TV. I also regularly pass on social activities. I stay up too late. I write like a fiend when I have a chance/inspiration, and if I have a period of time when I can't write because of the business of living and being a mom and a wife and a friend and a sister and a daughter, well, I don't beat myself up over it. But I do go a little nuts without imaginary friends to talk to.
If it is important to you to write, you'll find a way to fit it into your life. You'll have to sacrifice some things. (Please make certain those things are not spouse and children relationships. Those need to take priority.) And if you aren't ready to sacrifice fun things to make the time, that's okay, too. We can't all be psychotic, anti-social, sleep-deprived writers.
Thank heavens.
Where do you get your ideas?
I buy them in a back alley of Chinatown in L.A. The serial numbers are all scratched off, and I'm sure it's not legal, but you can't find premium ideas any cheaper.
(Real answer: movies! music! good books! nature! visiting new places! talking to interesting people! asking new questions! letting your mind go crazy with "what if" combinations! so on and so forth.)
How can I get published?
The very first step, and some would argue the most important one, is to write a book.
When is the movie going to get made?
While we have sold the option to make Paranormalcy into a film or television series, movies are a long, complicated process. Rest assured the producer and his team are freaking awesome and doing everything they can to put Evie on the big screen. Recent updates include signing director Ray Kay on!
Which actors do you want for the roles?
I don't think too much about it, because when it comes to casting I will have pretty much zero say whatsoever. That being said, here's a blog post on the subject.
I saw that you're originally from Utah and got your degree from BYU. Does that mean...
That I like green jello? No, not too much. I prefer raspberry.
Oh, did you mean do I snowboard? Not as well as I'd like. Actually, I never enjoyed it very much, so I guess exactly as well as I'd like.
Wait, you were talking about something else entirely. The answer is no, I am not a blonde either naturally or from a bottle.
Also, yes, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known colloquially as Mormons. Not that that's what you were asking, of course.
(And, to answer any further questions, I am neither polygamist nor Republican.)
How do you find time to write?
I look between the couch cushions. Spare time always falls down there when I'm watching TV.
Seriously? I don't watch much TV. I also regularly pass on social activities. I stay up too late. I write like a fiend when I have a chance/inspiration, and if I have a period of time when I can't write because of the business of living and being a mom and a wife and a friend and a sister and a daughter, well, I don't beat myself up over it. But I do go a little nuts without imaginary friends to talk to.
If it is important to you to write, you'll find a way to fit it into your life. You'll have to sacrifice some things. (Please make certain those things are not spouse and children relationships. Those need to take priority.) And if you aren't ready to sacrifice fun things to make the time, that's okay, too. We can't all be psychotic, anti-social, sleep-deprived writers.
Thank heavens.
Where do you get your ideas?
I buy them in a back alley of Chinatown in L.A. The serial numbers are all scratched off, and I'm sure it's not legal, but you can't find premium ideas any cheaper.
(Real answer: movies! music! good books! nature! visiting new places! talking to interesting people! asking new questions! letting your mind go crazy with "what if" combinations! so on and so forth.)
How can I get published?
The very first step, and some would argue the most important one, is to write a book.
Seriously.
After that, I'm just going to direct you to a blog post I did on this very subject.
Can you take a look at my book/query/synopsis/posted chapters?
No. Sorry. I really,
really wish that I could help everyone out as much as they want me to.
But I've got my own writing that takes up quite a bit of time, and a
group that I already trade critiques with. There's also the whole
liability issue, and while I know no one cool enough to be reading the
FAQs on my website would ever accuse me of plagiarism, we live in a
litigious society and it's a sad fact that authors have to be safe to
avoid becoming sorry.
HOWEVER. I cannot
emphasize enough how important it is to have critique partners--good,
thoughtful, smart people who a) will be kind and b) will also tell you
the truth. I know my writing improved dramatically with the help of my
friends, all of whom I found online.
If you are looking
for help on a query, there are many blogs and websites out there that
volunteer advice. You also can't go wrong by reading up on the basics on
Nathan Bransford's blog.
If you still insist
on sending me something, I will delete it sight-unseen. And feel very
bad about it, too, so please don't do it.
Could you take me in a fight?
That all depends on
whether or not I have the element of surprise and if I'm allowed
nunchucks. Never underestimate small people. Especially small people
with nunchucks.
How long did it take you to find an agent? How long did it take you to sell? Is Paranormalcy your first novel?
I queried on and off
for about a year with a disastrously boring middle grade project that
will never, thankfully, see the light of day. After I wrote Flash (which
should answer that question about whether Paranormalcy is my
first novel--it is, in fact, my fourth), I queried for about three
months before Michelle and I found each other. (45 queries, if you're
really curious, and if you're reading this section, odds are you are.)
While Flash was on submission early 2009 I wrote Paranormalcy. When Flash didn't sell, I decided that Paranormalcy
was the book to pursue. I spent a few months editing it (and editing it
and editing it and editing it), and then sent it to Michelle, who
agreed that we had something special.
Fortunately many
editors agreed, as well. It was on submission for less than a month when
it sold to Erica Sussman (yay Erica!) at HarperTeen in a significant
pre-empt.
So, I've been working toward this for a while, but I can't imagine it turning out a better way.
Can I have an ARC or review copy of [Whatever Book Is Next] to review on my blog?
I
am not in charge of distributing ARCs and get very few copies myself. I
would direct you to the person in charge, but...I don't know who it is.
Not very convenient, is it? Sorry.
Not very convenient, is it? Sorry.
Can you send me a signed copy of [Whatever Book I Want]?
No. Sorry. If you see I'm going to be signing at an independent bookstore soon, you can always call and order a signed, personalized book through them. I'll sign it when I'm there and they'll ship it to you. I do not ever send out books for review once they have already been published. If you can't afford to buy books (and I understand!), please visit your local library and request them there!
Can you send me a signed bookplate?
You can send a bookplate to:
Kiersten White
c/o HarperCollins Children's Books
10 E 53rd StreetNew York, NY 10022
Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. It'll take a while to get to me, but I do answer all snail mail I receive.
No. Sorry. If you see I'm going to be signing at an independent bookstore soon, you can always call and order a signed, personalized book through them. I'll sign it when I'm there and they'll ship it to you. I do not ever send out books for review once they have already been published. If you can't afford to buy books (and I understand!), please visit your local library and request them there!
Can you send me a signed bookplate?
You can send a bookplate to:
Kiersten White
c/o HarperCollins Children's Books
10 E 53rd StreetNew York, NY 10022
Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. It'll take a while to get to me, but I do answer all snail mail I receive.
Do you read novels for review or potential blurbs?
Sometimes.
It depends on how much time I have, and whether the novel sounds like
something that is to my taste. I do not blurb many books (only one or
two per season). You are welcome to have your editor or agent send along
the request to my editor or agent.
Can you give away my [book, product, child] on your blog or announce my giveaway?
As much as I would
love to help out, I try to keep my blog as professional as possible (you
can tell this is true because of how often I talk about vomit--nothing
says professional like vomit!). It's very important to me that if I
recommend a book on my blog, my readers know it is because I genuinely
love it and think they will, too. I may occasionally link to giveaways
or contests if they are for books that I recommend. I won't promote or
endorse any products other than Dr Pepper (and I've yet to be paid for
that, although I wouldn't complain), and I cannot give away your child
on my blog because that would be illegal.
So please don't ask me to host a giveaway for anything, because I'll have to say no and I'll feel really, really bad about it.
What if you didn't answer my question on this page? Which, by the way, you totally didn't.
My apologies. I told you I wasn't very helpful.
Do you have an author photo I can use on my blog post/newspaper article/dartboard?
Why yes, yes I do. Please email me if you need a higher resolution version!
